Tire with detachable tread.



J. A. BOWDEN.

TIRE WITH DETACHABLE TRBAD.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 9, 1910.

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

Q 4 2 W MW H M u n M J. A. BOWDEN.

TIRE WITH DETAGHABLE THEAD,

APPLICATION FILED MAR. a, 1910.

Patented M2114, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. A. BOWDEN.

TIRE WITH DETACHABLE TREAD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1910.

1,054,820, Patented'Mar. 4, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

MMM

JUNIUS A. BOWDEN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TIRE WITH DETACHABLE TBEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 4., 1913.

Application filed March 9, 1910. Serial No. 548,313.

To all 101mm 1' 15 may concern Be it known that I, Jumus A. Bowman, a.citizen of the lhiited States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county ofLos Angeles and State of alifornia,'have invented a new and useful Tirewith Detachable Tread, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a rubber tire having a detachable tread; thetread being in theform of a band and encircling the tire and receivingthe wear and preferably having an anti-skid surface. Means are providedfor detachably securing the tread t0 the tire so that when the treadbecomes worn or damaged, it may be removed from the body of the tire anda new tread substituted, thereby saving the main part of the v tire andresulting in great economy.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide efficient meanssecured in the tire for holding the tread to the body of the tire insuch a manner that the-tread at its outer edges will bind tightly to thetire,

preventing foreign matter from entering between the tire and tread, andyet can be readily detached when desired.

A further object is to provide novel and effective means for preventingthe detachable tread port-ion from shifting relatively to the tireeither circumferentially or'transversely of the tire.

In previous applications of mine, filed April 16, 1908, Serial No.427,544, and May 25, 1909, Serial No. 498,363, I have shown a detachabletread portion in the form of a band which encircles the tire and a wireis employed at each edge of the band to assist in retaining the same andto bind the edges of the band tightly against the tire.

The present invention relates to improved means for securing the treadportion and to improved interlocking devices for holding the treadportion in position.

A further object is to provide means for minimizing punctures.

Referring to the drawlngs, Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly insection, of a portion of one form of the invention; Fig. 2 is a planview on a reduced scale of the tread portion; Fig. 3 is a viewof theinner face of the tread portion; Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 1,with the-tread portion removed;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of portions of the detachable holdingdevices; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the hard disks;

Fig. 7 is a view, similar to Fig. 1', showing 7 another form of theinvention; Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a form of fasteningdevice used in the detachable tread "of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a plan view ofthe form shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a view of the inside face of thetread portion of Fig. 7; Fig. 11 is a lan view of a portion of theinside face of the tread for the tire of Fig. 13; Fig. 12 is a sectionalview of another form, showing the tread portion slightly,

lifted; Fig. 13 is a cross section of another form; Fig. 14 is aperspective view, partly in section, of the base formed with the treadremoved; Fig. 15 is .a pers ective view, partly 'in section, of anotherorm; Fig. 16 is a perspective, in detail, of one of the fasteningdevices employed in Fig. 14; Fig. 17

is a perspective view, partly in section, on an enlarged scale, ofpartof the fastening device employed in Fig. 15; Fig. 1 8 is a sectionalview through another form; Fig. 19 is a plan view of the form shown inFig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a cross section through another form; Fig. 21 is a view ofthe inner face of the detachable tread portion of Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is aplan view of the base of the tire of Fig. 20; and Fig. 23 is a detail inperspective, showing another form of fastening device.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, 1 designates the base of a tire which isprovided with pockets 2, the base 1 of the tire being formed.

of the usual tire material, consisting of rubber with cotton or otherfabric located within it at desired points. The outer face of the base 1is nearly fiat in transverse section, but may be made of any curvaturedesired.

3 designates the detachable tread portion which consists of a band whichcompletely encircles the tire and the inner face of which is providedwith projecting lugs 4 which fit Within the pockets 2 in the base of thetire whereby the tread portion 3 is positively locked mechanically from.moving circumferentially of the tire or transversely thereto. The outerwearing surface of the tread portion 3 may be provided with projections5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or: with any other form of projection, orthe tread surface may be simply a-plain surface, if desired.

I preferably employ the'projections 5, and provide them with enlargedcircular end portions 6 which are united by an intermediate straightportion '7, and the lugs 5 are staggered, as clearly shown. These may bearranged in two or more rows, as desired.

The tread portion 3 is preferably. formed of rubber and is reinforced bycotton or other fabric 8, as indicated in Fig. 1.

In order to minimize puncture, disks 9 of some hard substance, forexample, hard fiber, are placed in the pockets 2 and lie immediatelybelow the lugs 4. -The disks 9 prevent a nail or other sharp thing frompassing completely through the tire portion.

The tread portion may be secured to the base of the tire in variousways, in the form referred to, being secured by means of loops 10 whichare embedded in the base 1, and which project into slots 11 in the treadportion 3. A wire or cord 12 extends along the outer edge of thedetachable tread portio-n3 on the upper surface thereof, and isconnected with the loops 10 by metal hooks 13 which extend into theslots 11. The loops 10 are arranged preferably in pairs, each pair beingconnected by a strip of fabric 1 1 which is covered with rubber 15 andvulcanized in the base of the tire, the ends of the fabric being securedto .the loop in any desired manner, as by doubling over the loop. One

very desirable manner in which to construct this feature is to doublethe canvas upon itself, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, with a rubber layerbetween the two folds and reinforced with fabric at point of contactaround the loop. j

The loops-1O and canvas 15 will be placed in the base of the tire duringthe construction of the tire, thus permanently incorporating them in thebase portion of the tire.

In the fastening device shown in Fig. 23 the fabric and rubber is.carried up at the ends of the device to near the top of the loop,leaving only a sufiicient portion of the loop exposed, being that partof the loop which protrudes above the rubber in which the device isembedded. In this form, the two loops are formed from a single piece ofwire 22 at each end thereof, and the canvas and rubber envelop thedevice except as to the protruding ends, as explained, the fabric beingstitched, as indicated, to hold it in position.

The detachable tread portion 3 is secured to the tire body as follows:-First the tire is removed from. the wheel, is then collapsed, and thetread portion fitted over with the lugs registering with the pockets.The tire with'the tread is then placed on the wheel. The wires 12 arethen laid in position. The tire is then inflated to a higher pressurethan would ordinarily be used. This shortens the distance between thewire 12 and loop 10 by reason of the tread portion being of lessextensibility than the base portion of the tire,

so that the extension of the base portion forces it into intimatecontact with the inner surface of the tread portion. While in thiscondition, the hooks 13 are connected,th lower ends of the hooks havinfirst been connectedwith the loops 10 an while the distance between theloops 10 and the wires 12 is the least, the tire being under abnormalpressure, the upper ends of the hooks are bent over the wires 12 therebysecurely attaching and binding the tread portion. If desired, strongcord may be used to bind the loop 10 to the wires 12. The tread portionhaving been secured, the pressure in the tire is reduced to normalpressure and during such reduction of pressure the contraction of thebase of the tire increases the distance between the loops 10 and wires12, thereby placing a greater tension on the hooks 13 and the moresecurely fastening the tread portion in place. From this it will beapparent that after the tread has been attached, that should the tirebecome deflated, the tread portion will be more tightly held than whenthe tire is under normal pressure or even greater pressure.

In all cases it will be noted that the wear-' ing surface of the treadextends above the binding means whether it be the hooks 13 and wires 12or other devices which may be employed and thus protect the bindingdevice from wear, as the tread 3will be replaced with a new one when theprojections have been worn down to such an extent so that further wearwould be received by the binding devices, at the same time securing theadvantages of an antiskid feature.

In the form shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the

construction is quite similar. -In this form, v

the outer projections on the tread portion 3 comprise continuous ribs 16placed at intervals, and having convex projections or enlargements 17.This plan is not intended to afi'ord additional security for holdingWires 12, but is for easy access to wires 12 from loops 22, notdepending on any predetermined location for either the loops 22 of thetire or of loop 19 of the tread. In this form additional security isobtained by providing means for preventing the wires or cords 12 fromlateral displacement outwardly. I accomplish this by means of hooks 18,the outer ends of which engage the wires 12, the inner ends of the hooks18 being engaged with loops 19 which extend in substantially ahorizontal plane and are arranged in pairs and connected by a strip offabric 20 which extends directly across through the tread portion 3.

Fig. 8 shows the cross fabric 20 and loops 19 in detail. The hooks 13are also secured in a slightly different manner to the preceding form,being bent over the outer corners and edges of the tread portion 3, andtheir lower ends engaged with loops 22 which are anchored in the base ofthe tire and are der to bring their protruding portions at the outsideedges of the tread portion3, this construction avoiding the use of theslots 11 used in the previous form. I bind fabric around and to a secial form of metal, as in Figs. 5, .16 an 23, covering the metalcompletely, where it is to be secured in the rubber, and thenvulcanizing the fabric containing the metal holders into the tire. Ipreferably use a metal holder in the forms shown, but do not limitmyself to these forms, The loops 22 may be connected by canvas l-l andrubber 15, as in the previous form. Strong cord may be substituted forthe metal hooks if desired.

In order to more thorou hly seal the crack between the outer edges 0 thetread portion 3 and the base 1, and the more perfectly prevent theentrance of foreign matter, I provide small projecting 'ribs 23 on thebase 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 14, which are compressed against theunder face of the tread portion when the latter is securedin position.It should be understood that the tread portion is not recessed toreceive the ribs 23 but that the ribs themselves are compressedsomewhat, and at the same time the inner face of the tread portion 3 isindented somewhat by the ribs 23, so that a very tight joint is secured.

In the form shown in Fig. 12, I have indicated a slight variation,applicable to any of the forms herein, in which the tread portion 3 isnot provided with lugs as in the previous forms, but is provided withpockets 24 only, while the base 1' is provided with lugs25, therebeingno pockets in the base 1. In Fig. 12, the tread portion 3 is shownlifted to reveal the absence of lugs thereon. When in position, the lugs25 are securely fitted within the pockets 24 in the tread port-ion 3.

Fig. 13 shows a slight variation over previous forms in that the base 1is rovided with three rows of pockets 26 an 27,

- the pockets 27 receiving lugs 28 formed on the tread portion 3, asshown in Fig. 11, while the pockets 26 on each side of the row ofpockets 27 are open and help to grip the tread when the weight of themachine is on the tread, therefore the row of open pockets providesmeans of gripping the tire but of less degree than the lugs, but thoughtsufficient for a plain tread which does not'receive the strain ananti-skid tread would. The empty pockets promote flexibility of the base1'- and at the same time economizing rubber to a large extent. Thepockets are provided with false bottoms of puncture proof material 9. v

In the form shown in Fig. 15, the detachable tread portion is secured tothe base 1 by means of wires or cords 29 which are laced back and forthbetween books 30 on the tread portion and hooks 31 on the base, as shownin Fig. 15. In this form, the hooks are secured to that shown in Fig.l6.

Fig. 17 shows the detail construction of a hook, the shank 31 of whichis riveted through the tread portion 3. In this form of Fig. 15 I havealso indicated that the interlocking lugs and pockets between the treadportion and base may be conical instead of cylindrical, as in previousforms, 32 indicating the conical lugs and 33 indicating the conicalpockets which receive the conical lugs.

In the form shown in Fig. 18, I have shown another method of fasteningthe tread portion 3 to the base 1, which consits of extending a wire orcord 34around each edge of the tread portion and laid in a groovetherein, the wires 34 being held in place by clencher staples 35, andthe ends of the wires being held by clencher staples 36 and 37; theclencher staples 36 confining a single end of the wire 35, and clencherstaples 37 passing over both overlapping ends. In this form it will beunderstood that the interlocking lugs and pockets hold the tread portion3 against circumferential or lateral movement, while the wires 34 holdthe tread portion 3 from radial movement, thereby insuring that the lugsremain in the pockets, thus positively securing the tread portion inplace.

Figs. 20, 21 and 22 show another form in which the tread portion 3 isprovided with continuous ribs 38 which are received by continue-usgrooves 39 formed on the base 1. The ribs 38 are joinedwith the treadportion 3 by neck portions 40 of slightly less widt-h than the grooves39 thus aiding in interlocking the parts. In this form the same means ofloop attachment may be employed to bind the outer edges together, as inprevious forms described.

What I claim is 1. In a tire having a detachable tread, metallic memberssecured in the tire, a wireencircling each edge of the tread, saidmembers connected to said Wire, as means of binding the edges of the(read to the edges of the tire and in a direction toward the axis of thetire, for tightly closing the division between the tread and tire- 2. Ina tire comprising two rubber parts. a body part and a detachabletreadpart, the body part having a recess and the tread part having aprojection on its under side, a wire on each edge of the tread bearingagainst the outside of said tread, means for holding said wire fromdisplacement, a series of holding members attached to fabrlc and thefabric vulcanized in the body part and extending to the surface thereof,said projection of the tread fitting into the recess of the bodypart,and connection beby fabric, in a manner similar tween the holdingmembers and wire for .said strip being vulcanized in the tread and theholding members extending to the surface approximately at the base ofthe protuberances, as means of detachably securing the tread to a tire.

4. In rubber tires, a detachable Wire encircling the edges of adetachble tread as means for binding the tread to the tire, said treadin the form of a band and having a protuberance on its outer surface,said 'wire bearing against said tread approximately at the base of saidprotuberance, and attachment members for holding said wire fromdisplacement.

5. In rubber tires, a detachable tread encircling the tire, said treadin the form of a band and having a protuberance on its outer surfacenear its edges, holding members secured approximately at the base ofsaid protuberance, a tire having holding members secured in its body andextending to the surface thereof, connections between said members ofthe tread and said members of the tire for binding the tread closely tothe tire, said connections being joined externally.

6. In a tire, a base portion, a detachable tread portion encircling thebase portion, said tread portion having a marginal portion on each sidewith a substantially flat outer face, a wire extending around the tireand lying against the outer face of each marginal port-ion, fasteningdevices protruding through the outer face of the tread portion, meansconnecting each Wire at intervals with the associated protrudingfastening devices, bands extending laterally through the tread portionand connected to the Wires at intervals to prevent lateral spreading ofsaid wires, and bands vulcanized within the base portion and connectingfastening devices on opposite sides.

7. In a'tire, a base portion formed with a circumferential outer parthaving a substantially fiat outer face, a series of bands extendingsubstantially straight, laterally in said circumferential outer port-ionand the ends of said bands terminating near the sides of said outerportion and lying within the outer portion, loops secured to the ends ofsaid bands within said outer portion and protruding through the outerface of said portion, a detachable tread portion lying against said baseportion, the said outer circumferential portion and the said treadportion being formed with interfitting means preventing lateral orcircumferential displacement of the tread portion, said tread port-ionhaving circumferential marginal protuberances which restagainst theouter face of the said circumferential outer portion of the base, wiresextending circumferentially around the tread portion and lying closeagainst the outer faces of the circumferential marginal protuberances,fastening devices connecting said wires at intervals with the associatedprotruding loops, and means within said tread portion and connectedexternally with said wires for preventing lateral displacement of saidwires.

8. In a tire, a base portion formed with a circumferential outer parthaving a substantially flat outer face, a series of bands extendingsubstantially straight laterally in said circumferential outer portionand the ends of said bands terminating near the sides of said outerportion and lying within the outer portion, loops secured to the ends ofsaid bands within said outer ortion and protruding through the outer fzice of said portion, a detachable tread portion lying against said baseportion, the said outer circumferentialportion and the said treadportion being formed with interfitting means preventing lateral orcircumferential disportion having circumferential marginal prctuberanceswhich rest against the outer face of the said circumferential outerportion of the base, Wires extending circumferentially around the treadportion and lying close against the outer faces of the circumferentialmarginal fastening devices connecting said wires at protuberances,

placement of the tread portion, said tread intervals with the associatedprotruding loops, and bands extending laterally Within said treadportion and terminating within the outer edges thereof, and hookssecured to the ends of the latter bands and protruding from the treadportion, said hooks being connected to said wires at intervalsintermediate of said fastening devices.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, Cal.,this 1st.

day of March, 1910.

' JUNIUS A. BOWDEN.

In presence of G. T, HAoKLnY, FRANK L. A. GRAHAM;

